Sighting device for weapons



Y April 1,1952 A, GERBER 2,590,954

SIGHTING DEVICE FOR WEAPONS Filed Aug. 22, 1945 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 4INVEM'OR: Alfred Ger/)er Patented Apr. l, i952 stares appagante August 22, 1945,4 serial No., 612,036 in Switzerland August 23, 1944 initials. (ci. 'e3-i9) Among the known aiming devices for antiaircraft weapons, eme-rience shows' that those have proved most successful which are provided with optical aiming devices, since such aiming contrivances can be constructed in such a manner that aiming point and target can be seen clearly with the same visual adjustment of the eyes. For the purpose of further improving such aiming devices it has 4been suggested to `equip them with aids for the accurate determination of the fiying plane of the target, i. e. the *plane given by the gun position and the targetY course, assuming the latter to be a straight line.

In the known designs of such aids an aiming line appears in the field of vision of an optical aiming device which may for instance, consist i an aiming telescope, this aiming line being arranged turnably and parallel to the apparent aircraft course in such a manner that for the de'- termination of the flying plane position the aiming line is geared to an arm arranged turna-bly around a constantly vertical axis, and that lthis arm, when set parallel to the ying plane, causes the aiming line visible in the field of vision of the aiming device also to be parallel to said plane.

The present invention relates to an aimingidevice which also makes use of optical aiming' devices and aids such as described; an aiming line being arranged visibly in the field of visionofan aiming device and' turnably for the purpose of setting it parallel to the apparent aircraft target. According to the invention an aiming point is arranged in the optical aiming device, which, with regard to the lateral movement of the weapon, is rigidly affixed to the latter, in' such a manner that it can be shifted along the aiming line and turned with it; moreover, a triangle is provided for the reproduction of the aiming-oir triangle in space, which is arranged turnably around one of its sides as axle and which transmits its rotation to the aiming' line, itbeing in drive-connection both with the members in'- tended to turn the weaponlaterally and withv a device for manual operation; moreover, that side of the reproduced triangle which, with its rotating axle. encloses the aiming-ofi angle resulting from its relations to the distance fron1,.and the speed of, the targetV is connected via the Vdriving members with the shiitable' aiming vpointin'such a manner' that when the aiming-ofi anglais altered the point is shifted correspondingly andthus the aiming-oilaigle is'tra-'nsniitted to the optical vaiming device. l

The invention presents' a particularv advantage 2 because the aiming device is rigidly connected to the weapon in respect of the latters lateral movement; this fact procures a considerably more stable connection between aiming device and weapon than is the case with the known aiming devices described above in which the aiming device is arranged turnably in respect of the weapon, both with regard to side and to position.

It is advisable to use a so-called reflex sight as aiming device in which the target is looked at through a glass plate, set obliquely to the sighting line and operating simultaneously as a mirror in such a manner that by means of a special `source i light a hair cross or such-like is projected on the glass plate and, by reiiection, from the latter to the eye of the observer. rhis sight can easily be designed in such a manner that on the glass plate only the aiming line preferably consisting of two parallel lines arranged at a small distance from each other and the aiming point, which can be shifted along the aiming line are visible without other parts, such as those necessary to shift and hold the aiming point, interfering with the field of vision. v Y K1 In the attached drawing a specific embodiment of the present invention is explained and described.

Fig. 1 shows a sideview of a small-calibre gunA with an aiming device suitably arranged on it; Y

Fig. 2 a view in perspective of the aiming device with cover removed, and i Figa 3 and 4 show cross and longitudinal sectionsthrough the optical' part of the aiming device, Fig. 3 being a section along lineV s-s' in Fig; 4 while the upper half oi Fig. 4 shows a section along line t-t and the lower half a section along line 'v -u in Fig. 3,

According to Fig. 1 upper gun carriage 2 is fastened to lcwergun carriage i in such a mannerv that it can rotate around a vertical axle. On upper gun carriage 2, in addition to seat 6 for the operator, cradle Il carrying'weapon 3 is mounted in' such a manner that it can be rotated around horizontal axle 5. By operating handwheel 'i the whole upper gun carriage with cradle and weapon can be turned around the vertical axle, and in a similarv fashion, by operating hand Wheel 8, cradle 4 and with it weapon 3 can be turned in a vertical plane. To upper gun` carriage 2, slightly to one side of the longitudinal axis of weap'or'lV 3, support i l is rigidly affixed, while on both sides of cradle one rod i2 each'is connectedartic'ulately. The upper!endsgofsupport Hand of pair'of rods' l2 are jointed by plate I3 in such a manner that the latter is always parallel to the direction of the weapon, i. e. support II, rods I2 and plate I3 form together a parallel guide. Besides plate I3 casing I4, which is supported against plate I3 by means of part I5, is hinged to the axle arranged at the end of support Ii. From one of the two side walls of casing I4, which stand parallel to the Weapon axis, reflex sight I6 protrudes as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 shows the design of the aiming device in detail. Support II is provided at its upper end with U-shaped part 2U whose arms 2l carry horizontal axle 22. To 4the ends of an axle 2?. extending beyond the ends of arms 2i, plate I3 is pivoted by means of extensions 23, while between arms 2I on axle 22 holders 24 are pivoted, by means of which casing I4 is supported against axle 22. As an additional bearing point for casing I4 on plate I3 part 25 is provided, protruding laterally, on which lies bolt I5 having an enlarged lower end, and which in a manner requiring further explanation, is held by the slide guide 21 affixed to the bottom of casing i4.

The reflex sight is affixed to the left side-wall of casing I4 as shown n Fig. 2. It consists in the main of glass plate 28, which can .be turned around a gudgeon placed in part 23, and of socket 3U inserted in the side-wall of casing I4. Above the latter, holding plate 3| is affixed to casing I4, to which on the one hand bearing 2S and on the other hand support 32 are rigidly connected. At the bottom of casing I4 electric bulb 34 in socket 33 is arranged in the axis of socket 39, by means of which the reflection oi two straight lines arranged at a small distance from the longitudinal axis of socket 39, in a' plane vertical to this axis and turnably around it, is projected on to glass plate 28. The design of the parts arranged in socket 33 can be seen in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, and will be fully explained when these drawings are described.

For the rotation of the two lines forming the aiming line around the axis of socket 39 the following mechanism is provided: By a frame vconsisting of carriers 35 and 35 which is affixed to the upper and lower side-walls of casing I4 two horizontally arranged co-axial shafts 3i, 32 are borne to the opposite ends of which U-shaped carrier 39 is aixed. At the outer end of shaft 38 drawn through the right-hand side-wall of the casing lever 4U is aixed, and a similar lever 4I is affixed to the outer end of shaft 22 in the same manner. By means of rod 42 which is pivoted to the ends of levers 49, 4I the latter are always kept parallel to each other, independent of the swivel movements of casing i4 around shaft 22 which is arranged in arms 2! in such a manner that it cannot be turned. In consequence the plane formed by U-shaped carrier 39 always maintains its direction in space during said swivel movements, the vertical being chosen as this direction.

In a socket 43 axed to the horizontal traverse of carrier 39 hollow shaft 44 is arranged which bears at its upper end disc wheel 45 and at its lower end bevel gear 46. For the purpose of turning Wheel 45 around its constantly vertical axis its underside is provided with a toothed rim engaged by bevel gears 47 which in its turn is geared to the pair of spur-wheels 48. The upper wheel of this pair, together with a bevel gear pertaining to the pair of bevel gears 49, is rigidly affixed to a hollow shaft borne by shaft 38. By means of the pair of bevel gears 49 this hollow shaft is geared to shaft 52 which pierces the lower side-wall of casing I4 and is borne by guide piece 5I, the end of this shaft protruding from casing I4 being itself geared to hollow shaft 54 Via a further pair of bevel gears 53. Hollow shaft 54 forms part of compensation gear 55 which is not depicted in detail but which is aixed to part 29 by means of support 56. Shafts 5'.' and 59 also engage with compensation gear 55, shaft 5l' being provided with hand crank 59 while shaft 58, being hollow, is also borne turnably by shaft 22 and carries at one end one of the wheels of the pair of vbevel gear wheels 93. The second wheel of this pair is mounted upon a shaft GI which is carried in a support II; the shaft 6I is operatively connected with the hand crank 'i (Fig. l) for the lateral movement of the gun by a gear drive which is not shown in the drawings.

Disc Wheel 45 is thus driven from two different places. The transmission ratio of the gear drives including the compensation gear 55 which transmits the rotation of the hand crank 7 (Fig. l) to the disc wheel 45, is so selected that the rotation of the disc wheel 45 produced by this crank is equal to the lateral rotation of the gun but takes place in the opposite direction.

Rack 65, arranged slideably between two guide rods 66 which are rigidly affixed to disc wheel 45, bears at its end universal joint 5l through which link 5S is connected to rack 55 in such a manner that it can be turned both around the vertical axis of the latter and around an axis in a normal position to the vertical axis. The other end of link 58 is slideably mounted in socket 59, the latter being arranged in such a manner that it can be turned around axle II rigidly affixed to it and borne by a Ushaped intermediary piece T0. Intermediary piece IB is affixed to shaft l2 whose one end is journalled in a carrier 'I3 affixed to frame 35, 35, the other end bearing hollow shaft 'i4 which is journalled in a carrier 35 of the frame. Of pair of bevel gear wheels 'i5 one wheel is borne by axle 1I, which is rigidly connected to socket 59, while the other wheel is afxed to the end of hollow shaft i4. As can be seen on the drawing, the center axis of shaft I2 is parallel to carriers 35 of the frame, and thus participates in the swinging movements of the frame I4 about the shaft 22. Furthermore, the axis of the shaft 12 intersects the centre axis of shafts 37, 38 at the same point at which the centre axis of universal joint 61, parallel to the rack, also intersects the centre axis of shafts 3T, 38.

On support 73 and on carrier 35 of the frame two further shafts 75, i1 are arranged which, via pairs of bevel gears 18, 'I9 are geared to shaft '12, and hollow shaft 74. Shafts 'I6 and I1 carry spur wheels 89, 8i, which work together with corresponding wheels arranged in socket 39.

The mechanism described functions as follows on condition that rack 65 does not slide on disc wheel 45: If only the hand crank 53 is turned, i. e. if the gun does not alter its setting either in respect of the side angle or the angle of sight casing I4 also remains stationary in spacewhile the disc wheel rotates around its vertical axis, simultaneously moving rack E5. The point of intersection of the longitudinal axis of lever 68 with axle 'Il forms the apex of a cone the axis of which is formed by the center axis of shaft 12, and which is inclined to the horizontal plane of the disk wheel 45 at an angle which is substantially the same as the elevation of the gun. The link 53 moves along the mantle surface of this cone during the rotation of the disk 45.

The rotary movement transmitted ,t0 intermediary piece by link 69 is not only transferred to shaft 12 but, owing to the rotation of axle 1I `aroiiirti shaft 12, also to hollow shaft 14. In view of the fact that the cone axis is, as a rul e oblique to its base, formed by disc wheel 45, the angle between link 68 and the centre axis o f shaft 12 alters constantly during rotation, a f act which expresses itself, moreover, in the rotation of bevel gear wheel borne by shaft 1I around its own axis. A further consequence is that the two shafts 12 and 1 4 do -not rotate synchronously in the lcourse of a half turn of disc wheel 45, but assure an increasing andthen decreasing advance in relation to each other. If instead of hand crank 59 handcrank 'I (Fig. l) is operated, casing I4 rotates together with the gun, disc wheel 45, however, receiving an additional rotary movement in the opposite direction as described in such a maner that rack 65 always runs parallel to itself. The relative movement of disc wheel 45 and link 68 in relation to axle 12 is analogous to the motion described above.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the design of the optical part of the aiming -device is depicted. Socket 430 is aiixed to one of the side-walls of casing I4 b y nange 85, so that the part of socket which is on the right side of this Ilange in Fig. 4 is situated inside casing I4. In this part of the socket there are two annular bearers 89 and 8-1 which, by means of ball bearings, are arranged in suchamanner that they can be turned around the longitudinal axis of socket 30. On their circumferences they are each provided with a toothed rim which is engaged by spur-wheels 80, 8| respectively. A holder of bearer 85 holds reticule 88 whose even back surface is covered with a nontransparent layer 38 with the exception of two thin straight lines 89 running parallel to each `other at a small distance from the axis of socket 30. At bearer 86, moreover, two plates 90 are affixed directly behind reticule 88 byV means of screws 9| in such a manner that they run parallel to the two lines 89 at some distance from the centre axis of socket 30. Both plates, by means of separation pieces 92, are held at such a distance from each other that the two rollers 93, 94 and steel tape 9 5 resting on them can be accommodated between them. Each of the two rollers 93 and 94 is rotatably mounted upon bolts |00 and |04, respectively; as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the bolt |00 is movablein slots |01, in two plates 90, while the bolt |04 is rmly mounted in these plates. The ends of the .tape 95 are aiiixed to two pins 96 vwhich in their turn are rigidly affixed to carrier 81; furthermore, steel tape 9,5 carries on that part which runs parallel to lines 89 a small plate 98 which is aixed to said part by screw 91 and guided by two grooves in plates 90, the small plate being provided with pin 99 of such a length that it extends beyond the two lines 89. I f bearer 81V is turned in relation to bearer 86 the vtwo pins 99 move from the position shown in Fig. 3 tothe left or to the right taking tape 95 with them, so that pin 99 shifts along the two lines 89. As in the course of this motion the tapel lengths between pins 96 and the resting points on rollers 93, 94 do not varyfin the same manner, roller 93 can be shifted between plates 9 0; it stands, moreover, under the tension of a spring. For this purpose the two plates 90 are provided with two longitudinal slots each in which thetworbplts |00 and IOI can be shifted..b9 lt |00 bearing roller 93 while bolt IOI is pulled by a spiral spring I0 3 aiiixed to plates 90. Outside pla-tes 90 the two bolts are connected to each other by two connection pieces |92, so that any shifting of roller 93 outwards effects simultaneous shifting of bolt I9! and the overcoming of the spring pressure.

In the end of socket 39 shown on the righthand side in Fig. 4 is placed condenser |05 by means of which the light coming from bulb 34 (Fig. 2) is projected on to lines S9 left transparent on reticule 88. From these the light rays fall on lens system |09 which is arranged in that part of socket 30 which protrudes from casing I4 in such a manner that its focus place coincides with surface 89 of reticule 88 provided with the two transparent straight lines 89. Owing to this fact an operator sighting across glass plate 28 and. having accommodated his eye to infinite obtains a sharp picture both of lines 89 and of the target.

As can easily be gathered from Fig. 3, there exists between the shifting of pin 99 and the turning of bearers 96, 81 causing it, a relation which is n ot linear .along the entire adjustment range of pin 99, this being due to the fact that the tape lengths between pins 9S and the resting points on rollers 93, 94 decrease in the saine proportion as bearers 85, 91 are increasingly turned with respect to each other. This design allows the construction of lens system |09 to be considerably simplified, certain distortions of the reiiections being admitted and corrected again by this, non-linear relation between the reciprocal turning against of bearers 86, 81 and the shifting of pin 99. These simplifications are particularly valuable if the lens, for the purpose of obtaining a large field of vision, as is essential when dealing with rapidly moving targets, is provided with a -big aperture angle.

Pin 9 9 serves the gunner as aiming point, when he looks through the reiiex sight while firing at a target. The reflection of pin 99 visible on glass plate 28 (Fig. 2) must thus lie in the aiming line running through the eye of the gunner and the aircraft. The direction of the gun is for two known main reasons different from said direction. One reason is the speed of the aircraft, which moves a certain distance during the trajectory-tirne of the shell, the other, that the shell does not move in a straight line but in a curve lying in a vertical plane. To obtain a hit the aiming line must form a rst angle with the axis of the gun which lies in a plane comprising the gun position and the line of flight of the target, and which hereinafter is termed the flying plane the aimingoff angle-and a second angle lying in a vertical plane-the superelevation angle. For the purpose of setting these two angles th aiming device is designed as follows:

lIn the sidewall of casing I4 shown on the right hand of Fig. 2 land in one of the two carriers 35 parallel shafts I I9 and |I I are rotatably arranged. Outside casing I4 shaft I|0 bears v -hand crank ||2 and indicator H9 which turns 7 of rotation into the sight. Itis then transmitted to the nut I|1 on the one hand for the purpose of adjusting the above-mentioned superelevation angle and, on the other hand, to the worm I8 for the purpose of adjusting the above-mentioned aiming-off angle.

The setting of the superelevation angle which depends upon the distance of the target and also upon the elevation of the sighting line, directed from the weapon to the target, is as follows: The cam I I9 is keyed upon the shaft I I I in such a manner that it rotates along with the shaft but is shifted longitudinally thereon. The cam ||9 rests upon a roller |23 which is rotatably mounted upon the upper end of a bolt I5. The bolt I has a widerY end supported in the above-described manner upon a shoulder provided in the plate |3. The bolt I5 is movable in a guide piece 21r in a direction at right angles to the bottom of the casing Ifl. The cam HS is provided with an annular groove which is engaged by a projection of the nut |I1 for the purpose of facilitating the movement of the cam I IS along the shaft III. When the nut I|1 is shifted along the screw II5 by the rotation of the hand crank I I2, the cam |I9 is shifted upon the shaft III by a corresponding amount. A leverage |28, I2I, |22 is provided for the purpose of rotating the cam H9 about the axis of the shaft III. The two levers |25, |22 are arranged parallel to each other and are firmly fixed upon the shafts I I I and 38, respectively; the free ends of these levers are connected by the link I2 I. As already described, the levers lil and 4| maintain their position in space in all swinging movements of the casing I4 or of the plate I3 about the fixed shaft 22; the same is equally true for the levers |29 and |22. However, the last-mentioned levers carry out a rotation about the casing I2, the amount of which is equal to the swinging movement of the casing Ill about the shaft 22. Consequently, each change in the elevation of the sight is transformed in a corresponding rotation of the cam I|9 about the axis of the shaft III.

The shaft 22 is located above the plane of the plate i3, since the ends 23 thereof are bent upi wardly. Consequently, the rear ends of the holders 2li carrying the casing Ill, which are mounted upon the shaft 22, are located above the plane of the plate I 3, while the front end of the casing in its lowermost position is practically located upon the plate I 3. The bottom of the casing I4 which is parallel to the optical axis of the reflex sightV is thus located in a position which corresponds to the largest distance from the target and is thus less strongly inclined than the surface of the plate I3 by the extent of the superelevation angle, the surface of the plate I3 being parallel to the axis of the barrel.

The cam H3 is of such form that when the target is a short distance away it engages the f .the reproduced triangle which corresponds to the aiming-off. distance is obtained by multiplying the target speed with a time value which depends upon the firing range of the ammunition used` of the average shell velocity. This value is only changed depending upon the distance of the predetermined intersection point and, therefore, it can be calculated as well from the determinable distance of the target which forms the traveling measuring point without any substantial error.

The corners of the reproduced triangle are formed by the turning point of socket 69 around axle 1|, universal joint 61 and the intersection of axis of shaft 44 with the rotating axis of joint lil running parallel to toothed bar 65. The distance of said intersection point from the joint of socket 69 corresponds to the invariable triangle side which always runs parallel to the optical Yaxis of the reflex sight. Said'time value is ob- VThe latter is provided with slots on both sides which are engaged by pins, one of which is affixed to nut IBI and the other to rail |32. Nut I 3| can be shifted on screw spindle |33, the direction of the latter being at right angles to the .direction in which the slide |28 is shifted. The

shaft |35 to one end of which the hand crank |25 is secured, transmits its rotation through the bevel gears |34 to the spindle |33. The shaft |35 .also carries an indicator |36 which can be adjusted over dial |31 arranged to set the aircraft speed. The extent of movement e which is transmitted by the lever |36 to the rail |32 is a function of the extent of movement :v of the slide |28 calculated from any desired point of origin, and of the extent of movement y of the nut 3| which is determined from that position of the lever |30 in which this lever is parallel to the direction of movement of the slide |28. This function has the following mathematical formula:

.b a-I-:c

In this formula, the constant a represents the 'distance of the above original point from the nut ISI, while the constant b represents the distance of this initial point from the rail |32. When the values of are small, this function is practically a straight line so that the shifting of the slide |32 is proportional to the product, :n.y. The cam disc |21 is so formed that its transmitsthe reciprocal value of the corresponding average shell 4velocity to the slide |28 for each value of the target distance set by the crank I I2. Rail |32 which can be shifted in a direction at right angles to the sliding direction of slide |28 and which at its endA forinsa rack transmits its movement representing the -value produced by the multiplication gear via gear |38, shaft |39 and the pair of bevel gears Iiil to hollow shaft I4I resting on shaft -31. Hollow shaft 14|, via a further pair of bevel gears, drives one shaft of differential gear |42 afxed to carrier 39, result shaft |43 of differential gear |52 being geared via a pair of bevel gears to one of the driving shafts of a further differential gear |45. The two differential gears function is known a manner as so-called back-turn gears,

'gear |42 serving to compensate the influence of the rotation of shaft 38 which occurs when casing I4 is turned around axle 22' and which, owing to hollow shaft il not participating in the rotation, translates this to shaft |43. For this purpose spur-wheel |136 is rigidly connected to adjacent carrier 35. When shaft 38 begins to turn spur- Wheel |131 rolls upon spur-wheel |46 and thus produces a rotary motion which superimposes itself on said rotary motion of shaft |43 in gear |132.

The result shaft of differential gear |435 carries spur-wheel |48 which engages spur-wheel |59 xed on shaft H39. Shaft |49 rests rotatably in hollow shaft M and carries at its upper end gear |5| working together with rack 65. When disc wheel d5 is stationary any rotation of shaft Hit is directly translated to pair of spur-wheels M8, |59 and therewith to gear |5| and rack 65. In order to prevent rack B5 from shifting in respect of gear |5| any rotation of hollow shaft id is translated via bevel gears d6 and |52 to a second driving shaft of differential gear |45 and thus, via pair of spur-wheels |48, |511 and shaft Ill-9, produces a rotation of gear |5| of such a magnitude that rack 65 is not shifted.

The aiming device described functions and works as follows: The operator of the gun seated on seat 6 (Fig. l) follows the aircraft under fire with gun 3 by turning hand cranks 3 and l until, when looking through refiex sight I6, the aircraft is in the centre of the field of vision. If he now stops the gun the aircraft moves in a certain direction, the apparent target course away from the centre of the eld of vision. Now the operator turns hand crank 59 (Fig. 2)-while gun 3 is still stationary-until the aircraft appears to move constantly between the two lines of the aiming point. As the aiming point and rack 65 are intergeared, the latter has thus been turned into a, starting position in which it is parallel to the intersection line of said flying plane with a horizontal plane. In relation to a system of co-ordinates fixed in space the direction of this straight line remains the same as long as the aircraft moves in a straight line itself. Now the operator follows the aircraft again with his gun 3 by means of hand crank 7 and 8 (Fig. l). He no longer sights it through the centre of his eld of vision, but through the aiming point at a certain spot in the aiming line.

In this manner, owing to the lateral aiming device of gun 3 being geared to rack 65 as described above, disc wheel 135 rotates constantly and automatically in such a manner that the rack always remains parallel to its starting position while the aiming line is turned in such a manner that it remains parallel to the iiying plane.

An assistant operator vsets at crank E25 the estimated or measured aircraft speed and at crank 2 the continuously altering distance of the target. In this way rack 65 is set at its right value and similarly cam ||9 together with the superelevation angle resulting from the sighting of the target are properly set. Moreover, by setting rack 65 according to direction and length the position of the aimingrpoint on the aiming line is determined, so that gun 3 is now in the position as regards bot-h side angle and angle of sight corresponding to the time value. During ring operations the gun can either be made to follow the `target by continuously turning hand cranks 'l and 8 (Fig. l), or, if it is desired to lay a barrage, it can be stopped. In the latter case the. aircraft will move away from the aiming point. In order to get the gun ready for another round the gunner need only sight the tar get again through theA aiming mark. Direction and magnitude of the aiming-off distance are automatically adjusted.

The object of the present invention could in many respects be designed differently from this specic embodiment.

For instance, instead of the multiplicationgear used, another gear, for example one working on the basis of logarithms, could be employed as described, for example, in the Netherlands Patent 28,615.

I claim:

l. In an aiming device, in combination with a gun, means for setting the gun laterally and'I in elevation, a reflex sight comprising a carrier,4

means rotatably supportingl said carrier about an axis of said reex sight, said axis serving as the direction for the projection of the center point of the reflex into the eye of an observer, means constituting a straight directional line firmly mounted upon said carrier and extending through the axis of rotation thereof, optical means for projecting said straight line into the eye of the observer, means firmly connecting said sight with the gun for transmittingthe changes in the elevation of the gun to said sight, driving` means for rotating said carrier, said driving means comprising a shaft, means maintaining said shaft vertical irrespective of the changes in elevation of said sight, means connected with the first mentioned means and said shaft for transmitting each lateral rotation of the gun. to said shaft in the form of a rotation of the same magnitude but of opposite direction, a manually operable drive for rotating said shaft independently of said transmitted rotation thereof, another shaft extending parallel to the optical axis of the sight, a drive operatively connecting said carrier with the second mentioned shaft, and means interconnecting said shafts for transmitting the rotation of the first mentioned shaft to the second mentioned shaft whereby said manual drive sets said directional line parallel to the apparent target direction.

2. In an aiming device, in combination with a gun, means for setting the gun laterally and in elevation, a reflex sight having a center point and comprising a carrier, means rotatably supporting said carrier about an axis of said reflex sight, said axis serving as the direction for the projection of the center point of the reex into the eye of an observer, means constituting a straight directional line firmly mounted upon said carrier extending through the axis of rotation thereof, index means movably mounted upon saidcarrier and shiftable along said straight directional line, optical means for projecting said straight directional line and said index means into the eye of an observer, means connecting said sight with said gun for transmitting changes in elevation of said gun to said sight, driving means for rotating said carrier and for shifting said index means along said straight directional line, said driving means including a shaft, means maintaining said shaft vertical irrespective of changes in the elevation of said sight, a manual drive for said shaft, means independent of said manual drive and connected with the first mentioned means for causing a rotation of said shaft during each lateral rotation of the gun, the extent of rotation of said shaft being the samev but taking place in the opposite direction, a member slidably mounted upon said shaft, said member being slidable in a direction perpendicular to said shaft, a second shaft extending parallel to the 11V Y Y optical axis of said sight, means operatively connecting the second mentioned shaft with said carrier, a link, means including a joint connecting one end of said link with the second mentioned shaft to cause said link to rotate with the second mentioned shaft, the last-mentioned means causing said link to swing in relation to the axis of the second mentioned shaft, a universal joint connecting the opposite end of said link with said member, means transmitting the swinging movement of said link about the axis of the second mentioned shaft to said index means, and manually operated means for adjusting the distance of said universal joint from the axis of the rst mentioned shaft, whereby said manual drive serves to adjust said directional line parallel to the apparent target'v direction and whereby said index means, the distance of which fromthe center point of said sight is adjustable by said manually operated means corresponding to the previously set aiming-off distance, serves for sighting the target.

3. In an aiming device, a reflex sight comprising a carrier, means rotatably supporting said carrier about an axis of said reiiex sight, said axis serving as the direction for the projection of the center point of the reflex into the eye of an observer, means forming a straight directional line mounted upon said carrier and rotatable therewith, said 'straight directional line extending through the axis of rotation thereof, two rotatable rollers connected with said carrier, the centers of rotation of said rollers lying upon a straight line which is parallel to said directional line, a band extending over said rollers, index means, attached to said band between said rollers and movable along said directional line when said band moves over said rollers, a second carrier, means rotatably supporting said second carrier about an axis of rotation which is the same as that of the first mentioned carrier, the ends of said band being firmly connected with said second carrier, whereby said index means is shiftable along said directional line when the first mentioned carrier is rotated in relation to the second mentioned carrier, and optical means for projecting said directional line and said index means into the eye of an observer. i

4. In an aiming device, in combination With a gun, means for setting the gun in train and elevation, a reflex sightl comprising a carrier, means rotatably supporting said carrier about an optical axis of said reflex sight, means constituting a straight directional line rotatable together with said carrier, optical means for projecting said straight line into the eye of the observer, means connecting said sight with the gun for transmitting the training and elevating movements of the gun to the sight, a shaft, means maintaining said shaft vertical irrespective of the changes in elevation of said sight, means connected with the first-mentioned means and said shaft for transmitting training movements of the gun to said shaft in the form of a rotation of the same magnitude but of opposite direction to prevent a rotation of said shaft about its axis during training movements of the gun, another shaft extending in a vertical plane parallel to the gun axis, which shaft is adapted to participate in the elevating movement of the gun and is operatively connected with said carrier, means including an articulated joint connecting said shafts and a manually operable drive for rotating said carrier independently of the rotation transmitted to it, whereby the direction of said directional line which is to be set initially by operating said manual drive is kept parallel to itself during training movements ofthe gun.

5. In an aiming device, in combination with a gun, means for setting the gun in train and elevation, a reiiex sight comprising two carriers, means rotatably supporting the carriers about an optical axis of the reflex sight, means constituting a straight directional line rotatable together with a first one of said carriers, an index movably mounted upon said first 4carrier and shiftable along said straight directional line, means connecting the second-mentioned carrier with said index to cause the index to `be shifted by a relative rotation of the second carrier with respect to the first carrier. optical means for projecting said directional line and said index into the eye of an observer, means connecting said sight with the gun for transmitting the training and elevating movements of the gun to the sight, a vertical shaft operatively connected with the first-mentioned means to transmit a rotation to the shaft about its axis equal to the training movement of the gun but of opposite direction, means connected with the shaft to be rotated with it and comprising an element movable in a radial direction with respect to the shaft, another shaft extending in a vertical plane parallel to the gun axis, which shaft is adapted to participate in the elevating movement of the gun and is operatively connected with the firstmentioned carrier, a link, the one end of which is articulately connected with said second-mentioned shaft to permit swinging movements of said link with respect to the second-mentioned shaft, and the other end of which is articulately connected with said element to transmit the rotations of the first-mentioned shaft to the secondmentioned shaft, a member adapted to rotate -about the axis of the second-mentioned shaft and operatively connected with the second-mentioned carrier, to transmit its rotation to this carrier, means connected with the first-mentioned end of said link to transmit the rotation of the rstmentioned shaft to said member and to superimpose the swinging movement of said link to cause said index to be shifted along the directional line whenever a swinging movement of said link with respect to said second-mentioned shaft occurs.

6. In an aiming device, a reflex sight compris'- ing a carrier, means rotatably supporting the carrier about an optical axis of the reflex sight, a screen which is transparent along a straight directional line and is connected with the carrier to be rotated with it, an index movably supported by the carrier to be shifted along said directional line, optical means to project both the directional line and the index along said optical axis into the eye of an observer.

'7. In an aiming device, a reex sight comprising two carriers, means rotatably supporting said carriers about an optical axis of said reflex sight, means forming a straight directional line rotatable together with one of said carriers, two rotatable rollers connected with the Same carrier, a band supported by said rollers and extending between them along a straight line parallel to said directional line, the ends of the band being connected with the other carrier, an index attached to said band between said rollers and movable along said directional line when said band moves over said rollers, whereby said index is shiftable along said directional line, when said 13 14 two carriers are rotated With respectl to each Number Name Date other. 2,339,508 Newell Jan. 18, 1944 ALFRED GERBER. 2,372,613 Svoboda, Mar. 27, 1945 2,396,701 Holschuh et a1. Mar. 19, 1946 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,407,665 Holschuh et a1. Sept. 17, 1946 The following references are of record in the 2,441,147 Haub'oe May 11' 1948 le 0f this patenti FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Country Date Number Name Date o 215,687 Switzerland Oct. 16, 1941 1,962,590 Haubroe June 12, 1934 

